The business behind the show

Barry Diller stands by old boss Rupert Murdoch

May 1, 2012 | 11:05
am

Former News Corp. executive Barry Diller, who was the architect of the Fox network, is standing by his old boss Rupert Murdoch.

In a statement issued in response to Parliament's blistering report challenging Murdoch's fitness to lead the media giant in the wake of the ethics scandal at News Corp.'s British newspapers, Diller said Murdoch is "more fit, morally and otherwise, to lead an organization than the majority of those that do."

Diller, who was chief executive of Fox Inc. from 1985 to 1992 and a News Corp. board member, said in the nearly 10 years he worked for Murdoch that he "never once, not once, in any situation saw anything other than the most honorable behavior in every possible business situation."

Ironically, while Diller is standing by Murdoch as British lawmakers take aim at his media empire, a company Diller backs is being sued by News Corp. Diller is on the board of Aereo, a firm that seeks to transmit broadcast signals through the Internet. Diller's IAC/InterActive Corp. also led Aereo's $20.5-million round of financing.

In March, News Corp.'s Fox, along with CBS, NBC and ABC, filed a suit accusing Aereo of violating copyright laws.